tabularasa_rp | November Catch-all

[ It's been a few days. Tension had been high at the time, and yes, Ann realizes that she did, in fact, overreact. If they hadn't just awakened from a month in nightmare hell she'd have probably reacted a little differently. She'd already felt guilty before Ren and her other friends had lectured her endlessly about her temper, she's heard it all, and yes, she understands that she deserves that and more.

She's planned on apologizing to the young man at some point, of course. She's just sort of... trying to wait until the time is right. Fate has dictated that today is the day of all days, and it's apology time apparently as she rounds the corner and spots Iwa. He's quick, too, trying to flee, and she can't really blame him. ]

Hey, wait! [ She swears she isn't going to try and kick your ass this time! ] Wait, I wanted to... I need to apologize to you for the other day...

[He hears the Hey, wait!, and thinks to himself, The fuck I will! Isn’t that that crazy fan girl that attacked him the other day? Tensions may not be as high on this random afternoon, but that doesn’t mean she’s any less crazy—-

[He...can’t keep himself from stopping when he hears the tone of her voice though, the way she says she needs to “apologize”. He inwardly groans as he feels his feet stop dead in their tracks. Why am I so goddamn nice, he wonders as he sighs, then turns around to face her with a cautious glare on his face.

[What to even say here? He definitely doesn’t want to be talking to her right now - so why am I? Iwa’s a nice guy deep down, and it has gotten him into endless frustrating situations. That, and he doesn’t really know how to handle girls in general - especially when they’re crazy and take flying leaps at people?

[She wants to apologize, he reminds himself. So...]

Say what you need to say then. I’ve got somewhere to be. [He lies.]

[ Oh, good, he actually stopped and she doesn't have to stoop to leaving a note on his door like some sort of bizarre stalker. ]

I'm sorry for the other day. I'm not normally that quick to jump... and it was wrong of me. We'd just... been through something really bad, and emotions were running high. But that's no excuse for what I did to you, because you were going through something really shitty too, having just arrived.

[ She's sincere, at least, and she means everything that she's saying. So, she takes it a step further and offers the poor young man a small bow of apology. ]

I'm really sorry about that. I hope that you've been able to relax since, and that you've had a better experience since.

[Iwaizumi does a pretty decent job of maintaining his irritated, guarded glare for most of the girl’s speech, but when she literally bows in apology, he...starts to feel a little bad. His expression softens into that of weak exasperation, and he stands there for a moment, lost for words.

[She does sound sincere, and that makes it hard to stay angry - even if she was practically kissing Gamer Boy’s ass the entire time they were trapped in that hallway (when she wasn’t trying to beat Iwa’s ass, that is).

[He sighs. What is he even supposed to say to that?]

It’s...whatever. [That should work, right? So he can leave now?

[Ughhhhh. Another long pause. This is so awkward. He shrugs a little, averts his gaze - anywhere but Ann.]

You know, you kept mentioning that - that something shitty happened, I mean. [However:] You should know that it was your friend who grabbed me first, and I’m not about to let just any asshole have their way with me without fighting back.

[He wants to say that there’s no need to worry about his experience, that he’s just fine, and that he’d really like to stop talking all and any of that, but—- well, that would be talking about it, wouldn’t it? Best to just let the conversation move past his own emotions.]

[ Ann finally straightens up a few moments later, shoulders drooping slightly because honestly, this entire ordeal has been... A Thing. ]

It's not 'whatever', I screwed up really badly and almost hurt you, and it wasn't your fault. I'm sorry. It shouldn't have happened.

[ She should have just grabbed Seto and pulled him back to his place and get some ice for his balls and let that be that. Should have, would have, but didn't. ][ She's not about to go into Mementos right now, now's not the time or place. ] ...He failed to mention that, but I'm not surprised. He did that to me once, too. [ And she'd had to fight the urge to flip Seto across the room and beat the shit out of him that time, too, if ONLY because of how sensitive things had been at the time. Now, they're close and it's very strange. ] ...I'm sorry about that, I'll try and talk to him about it. He's just... got a way about him.

[ He's a jerk, she knows it, everyone knows it, but... he is who he is. ]

My name is Ann, by the way. Ann Takamaki, and I'm really sorry we didn't get to meet on... better terms.

[Iwa (or rather, his pride) is about to argue that, no, Ann did not almost hurt him, that he would have been fine, but then she mentions talking to Kaiba, and—-]

No, do not—- [Easy, Iwaizumi. The girl is just trying to be nice. He tries again, adjusts his tone, though he’s still clearly agitated as he speaks.] Please, do not bring my name up to that guy ever. I don’t want anything to do with him, and I’m not lying when I say I don’t give a shit what he thinks about me.

[It’s the God’s honest truth, and he hopes his tone conveys that clearly. Here’s another topic of conversation he’d like to slide past as quickly as possible.]

Whatever you think about the rest of it, it’s fine. [His tone is a little more gentle now at least. He doesn’t want this girl beating herself up over defending a friend, even if it was a pretty shitty fucking friend to have to defend.] Nothing came of it, right? So it’s fine.

I’m Iwaizumi. Hajime, but just...Iwaizumi is fine. [Another pointed look.] But keep it to yourself. Seriously. [As in don’t tell that asshole anything about me and I mean it.]

Ah... [ Okay, yeah, she gets it. She raises her hands in a complacent gesture and nods. ] Sure, no problem. I'll keep it to myself, then.

[ Even though it's very likely he's going to bump into Seto again, this place is... only so big. But, he'll probably figure out how to handle that when the time comes. ]

It's not fine, I screwed up. And I'd like to make it up to you somehow.

[ Because that's only fair, isn't it? ]

Iwaizumi-san, then. I know, I know, I promise I won't tell Seto-kun anything. It's good to meet you on better terms.

[Iwaizumi sighs again. Why this girl is suddenly being so nice is beyond him - she must really be sorry, and that’s only making him feel worse about the whole situation.]

Listen.

Ann or Takamaki-san? Which do you prefer? [Since we’re on the topic of names, let’s get that out of the way first.]

[ What he's witnessing is Ann's... usual self. Not the pissed off bitch he ran into a few days ago. ]

Mm? I mean, whatever you want, I'm okay with being called anything. What about you? Iwaizumi-san or just Iwaizumi?

[He’s about to say “whichever”, but then they’d probably get caught in an endless loop of, “no really, tell me”, “no, really, whatever you want”, and that would be extremely annoying.]

Iwaizumi is fine. [Anything but “Iwa-chan”, honestly. He feels a little stab of pain in his chest just thinking about that name - don’t mind him while he pushes those feelings right back down into his gut.]

Listen, Ann. [Ann. We’re going with Ann.] I accept your apology, okay? So there’s nothing to make up.

I’m really not trying to be an ass, but if you’re that stuck on making something up to me, then I’m not sure how to help you. [What the hell could you give him that he’d actually think to want right now?

[Although...

[He pauses for a moment, seems to consider something.]

Actually...

Let me ask you something, huh?

Okay! Iwaizumi it is, then. [ Listen, it's nice not to have to use formalities, and she's not going to say no to that. ]

Well, I mean, it doesn't have to be right away. You may need something down the line, so, keep it as a rain check, you know? If you ever need help with anything, just let me know, offer aside. I'd be glad to help you carry stuff back from the stupid trash beach, or... I dunno, whatever you need.

[ Oh! But wait, has he figured something out? She flashes him a bright smile. ]

Sure, go for it!

You play any kind of sport, Ann?

Sports? No... I mean, my best friend plays volleyball, but I don't really do much on the sport front. I'm a part time model.

[The look on his face when he hears the word “volleyball” - it’s a mixture between that of a kid who just got told he was getting a puppy for Christmas and a heroin addict friending for a fix. It’s entirely impossible to disguise that flash of excitement and longing, which would be embarrassing if he weren’t so focused on the fact that this girl at least tangentially must know something about the game.

[It’s tempting - so tempting - to ask her who her friend is and whether or not they’re here, but he knows all too well what a sensitive subject that might be, so he refrains (for now). Besides, this is Ann’s favor that they’re talking about, and suddenly he knows exactly how she’s going to make things up to him.]

That’s my game. [The pride in his voice - the emotion behind that pride - he doesn’t even try to hide.] You ever seen your friend play a game?

[ Ann's eyes widen with delight as he mentions how volleyball is his sport of choice, and she claps her hands together excitedly. If Shiho were here... they'd get along. Shiho is such a sweet, wonderful person and she'd love to have someone to play with. Well... she would have, before certain incidents at home.

Can't think of that right now, though. ]

Yeah, of course! She was the starter on our high school volleyball team! I made sure to go to every game she played!

[Excellent.]

You busy right now? [Guess who lied about having somewhere to be.] I know how you can make it up to me.

No, not at all! I was just gonna go grab some coffee from the cafe. [ She laughs, because yeah, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know what's on his mind. ] Let's go play some volleyball and grab coffee afterwards?

[~~I DON’T KNOW ABOUT COFFEE, IT’S VOLLEYBALL TIME~~

[Iwaizumi doesn’t even care that he’s being read like a book. This is the brightest he’s felt since arriving, and he’s not about to question it - and where only minutes ago things had been so easy to question! He still barely knows this girl, hell knows if he can trust her, but all he wants - all he’s wanted for days now - is to feel his hand make contact with that ball again, and he’ll do just about anything to achieve that.

[He grins - what a difference that makes for his face, huh?]

Let’s go. [He grips the strap of his gym bag. Of course he’s already got everything he needs on him. He waits for her to catch up with him before heading for the exit once again.]

November Catch-all

REST IN FUCKIN PIECES IWA-CHAN

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